Nice vs. Beautiful: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 19, 2023
"Nice" describes something pleasant or satisfactory, while "beautiful" refers to something that is aesthetically pleasing or stunning.
Key Differences
"Nice" is a term that can be used for anything that is agreeable and satisfactory, not causing any trouble. It's a general, somewhat casual compliment. "Beautiful," on the other hand, is more specific, often used to describe something or someone that is pleasing to the senses, especially sight, or that inspires joy or admiration. Both "nice" and "beautiful" are positive descriptions, but "nice" is milder and less intense.
When describing a person, saying they are "nice" typically refers to their personality, indicating they are kind, friendly, and pleasant to be around. Calling someone "beautiful," however, usually refers to physical appearance, suggesting they are aesthetically pleasing or have qualities that delight or inspire admiration. Both "nice" and "beautiful" can be used to describe people, but they refer to different aspects.
Objects, experiences, and even days can be described as "nice," meaning they fulfill expectations, are enjoyable, or don't cause any inconvenience. Conversely, "beautiful" would describe something that stands out due to its aesthetic qualities, like a scenic view, a piece of art, or a particularly lovely day. Both "nice" and "beautiful" convey positivity, but "beautiful" often suggests a higher level of admiration.
"Nice" can also describe actions, indicating they are kind, considerate, or well-intentioned, like doing a nice thing for someone. "Beautiful" can describe actions, too, but it suggests they are exceptionally moving or admirable, like a beautiful gesture of love. Both "nice" and "beautiful" can be positive assessments of behavior, but "beautiful" implies a deeper, more emotional impact.
In terms of feedback, if someone says your work is "nice," they mean it meets the standards, it's solid and satisfactory. If they say your work is "beautiful," they're struck by its excellence, grace, effectiveness, or artistry. Both "nice" and "beautiful" are compliments, but "beautiful" is more profound and often more emotionally charged.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
General, satisfactory
Aesthetic, exceptional
Usage
Broader situations, personality
Physical appearance, deeper admiration
Intensity
Mild, casual
Strong, emotional
Application
People, experiences, actions
Often visual aspects, profound actions
Depth
Surface-level, agreeable
Deeper, inspirational
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Nice and Beautiful Definitions
Nice
Pleasant; agreeable; satisfactory.
We had a nice time at the party.
Beautiful
Exquisite; artistic.
The movie's cinematography is beautiful.
Nice
Fine or subtle.
He made some nice distinctions in his argument.
Beautiful
Not superficial; having inner beauty.
His generous nature made him a beautiful person.
Nice
Pleasing and agreeable in nature
Had a nice time.
A nice person.
Beautiful
Moving; inspiring.
It was a beautiful moment between them.
Nice
Having a pleasant or attractive appearance
A nice dress.
A nice face.
Beautiful
Having qualities that delight or appeal to the senses and often the mind.
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy and politeness
A nice gesture.
Beautiful
Excellent; wonderful
Hit a beautiful shot from the tee.
Nice
Of good character and reputation; respectable.
Beautiful
Used to express approval or delight.
Nice
Overdelicate or fastidious; fussy.
Beautiful
Attractive and possessing beauty.
Anyone who has ever met her thought she was absolutely beautiful.
There's a beautiful lake by the town.
Nice
Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle
A nice distinction.
A nice sense of style.
Beautiful
Good, admirable.
He was a beautiful person; he would drop everything to help you.
You've done a beautiful thing today.
Nice
Done with delicacy and skill
A nice bit of craft.
Beautiful
(of the weather) Pleasant; clear.
It's beautiful outside, let's go for a walk.
Nice
Used as an intensive with and
Nice and warm.
Beautiful
Well executed.
The skater performed a beautiful axel.
Nice
Wanton; profligate
"For when mine hours / Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives / Of me for jests" (Shakespeare).
Beautiful
Someone who is beautiful. Can be used as a term of address.
The man was faithful to his wife, ignoring the many blonde beautifuls who surrounded him wherever he went.
Hey, beautiful!
Nice
Affectedly modest; coy
"Ere ... / The nice Morn on th' Indian steep, / From her cabin'd loop-hole peep" (John Milton).
Beautiful
Having the qualities which constitute beauty; pleasing to the sight or the mind.
A circle is more beautiful than a square; a square is more beautiful than a parallelogram.
Nice
Pleasant, satisfactory.
Beautiful
Delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration;
A beautiful child
Beautiful country
A beautiful painting
A beautiful theory
A beautiful party
Nice
Of a person: friendly, attractive.
Beautiful
Aesthetically pleasing
Nice
Respectable; virtuous.
What is a nice person like you doing in a place like this?
Beautiful
(of weather) highly enjoyable;
What a beautiful day
Nice
Shows that the given adjective is desirable, or acts as a mild intensifier; pleasantly, quite.
The soup is nice and hot.
Beautiful
Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
What a beautiful dress!
Nice
Showing refinement or delicacy, proper, seemly
A nice way of putting it
Beautiful
Of a very high standard; excellent.
She made a beautiful speech.
Nice
(obsolete) Silly, ignorant; foolish.
Nice
Particular in one's conduct; scrupulous, painstaking; choosy.
Nice
(dated) Having particular tastes; fussy, fastidious.
Nice
(obsolete) Particular as regards rules or qualities; strict.
Nice
Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle.
Nice
(obsolete) Easily injured; delicate; dainty.
Nice
(obsolete) Doubtful, as to the outcome; risky.
Nice
(colloquial) Nicely.
Children, play nice.
He dresses real nice.
Nice
Used to signify a job well done.
Nice! I couldn't have done better.
Nice
Used to signify approval.
Is that your new car? Nice!
Nice
Niceness.
Nice
To run a process with a specified (usually lower) priority.
Nice
Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.
But say that we ben wise and nothing nice.
Nice
Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial.
The letter was not nice, but full of chargeOf dear import.
Nice
Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.
Curious not knowing, not exact but nice.
And to tasteThink not I shall be nice.
Nice
Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
Dear love, continue nice and chaste.
A nice and subtile happiness.
Nice
Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment.
Nice
Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
The difference is too niceWhere ends the virtue, or begins the vice.
Nice
Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.
Nice
Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.
Nice
Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children.
He's making a list, checking it twice.Gonna find out who's naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town.
Nice
A city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean; the leading resort on the French Riviera
Nice
Pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance;
What a nice fellow you are and we all thought you so nasty
Nice manners
A nice dress
A nice face
A nice day
Had a nice time at the party
The corn and tomatoes are nice today
Nice
Socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous;
From a decent family
A nice girl
Nice
Done with delicacy and skill;
A nice bit of craft
A job requiring nice measurements with a micrometer
A nice shot
Nice
Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted;
Too nice about his food to take to camp cooking
So squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow
Nice
Noting distinctions with nicety;
A discriminating interior designer
A nice sense of color
A nice point in the argument
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy and politeness;
A nice gesture
Nice
Kind, considerate.
That was a nice thing you did for her.
Nice
Requiring careful thought or attention.
It's a nice question, very complex.
FAQs
Can "nice" be used to describe an idea?
Yes, "nice" can describe an idea that is clever, agreeable, or satisfactory.
Is "beautiful" always about appearance?
No, "beautiful" can also refer to inner beauty or actions that are admirable.
Can landscapes be "beautiful"?
Yes, landscapes can be described as "beautiful" if they are aesthetically pleasing.
Can a gesture be "beautiful"?
Yes, if it is seen as particularly touching or kind.
Can "nice" be a backhanded compliment?
Sometimes, as it's seen as a generic, unenthusiastic praise.
Does "beautiful" imply rarity?
Often, yes. "Beautiful" items or moments are usually seen as special or uncommon.
Is "nice" less impactful than "beautiful"?
Generally, yes. "Nice" is often seen as a mild compliment compared to "beautiful."
Can weather be "nice"?
Yes, "nice" weather usually means pleasant, agreeable conditions.
Can "beautiful" describe sounds or music?
Yes, "beautiful" can describe anything that is pleasing to the senses.
Can "nice" describe a skill?
Yes, if the execution is seen as proficient or agreeable.
Is "nice" subjective?
Yes, what one person finds "nice," another might not.
Can "beautiful" be overwhelming?
Sometimes, as it often conveys a sense of awe or profound beauty.
Can an argument be "nice"?
Yes, if it's considered agreeable or cleverly constructed.
Can "beautiful" change a person's mood?
Often, yes. Encountering beauty can uplift or inspire individuals.
Can "beautiful" be a life-changing experience?
Yes, experiences of beauty can have a profound, transformative impact.
Can "nice" describe taste?
Yes, it can mean pleasant or enjoyable in flavor.
Is "beautiful" an emotional term?
It can be, as it often evokes feelings of admiration or awe.
Can "beautiful" refer to abstract concepts?
Yes, concepts like love or justice can be described as "beautiful."
Can "nice" be negative?
If used sarcastically or insincerely, it can convey negativity.
Is "nice" only for casual conversation?
It's common in casual talk, but can be used in formal contexts, too.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
